Work

Investigating the Reliability and Validity of the Sense of Belonging Inventory among First Year Undergraduates

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: In higher education, sense of belonging has been linked to improved outcomes such as retention and academic achievement. However, little research has been conducted to empirically study sense of belonging as a multidimensional construct. Data were collected from 1,072 first-year undergraduate students from a large, public, doctoral granting institution located in an urban area of the southeastern United States using the Sense of Belonging inventory. Results revealed four dimensions of belonging: perceived peer support, perceived faculty support, perceived classroom comfort, and perceived isolation. Results also revealed relationships between each dimension and first semester grade point average. These findings align with previous research on the relationship between sense of belonging and institutional outcomes as well as the reliability and validity of this inventory and support its use as a valid and reliable measure of sense of belonging in first-year undergraduates.

Source: Journal of College Student Retention Research Theory & Practice

DOI: 10.1177/15210251251321107

Authors: Lanah Stafford, Linda Bol, Kristin A. Gansle

Institution: Old Dominion University

Language: English

Topic: Higher Education Research Studies

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: American Educational Research Association